Barber-chair.



W. F, KOKEN.

BARBER CHMR. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 26, 1914.

1,178,733. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. F. KOKEN.

. BARBER CHAIR.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26,1914.

' 1,178,733. Pat-entd Apr. 11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 '1! l l|l ll lll ll l ll l UNITED STATES PATENT oFFio WALTER F. KOKEN',OF-ST. Lou1s,-iiussounr', AssreNon rofxoxnn mum" SUPPLY coMrANY, 012 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A coaromnon or'mssounr BAnBnnFcnAiR. 4

To all whom it may concern: 4 I

' Be it known that I, WAL'rEIi F. KOKEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement 1n Barber- ;Chair's, of which the following is a full, 'clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to adjustable chairs of the type that are used by barbers, dentists;

and other specialists for supporting a. customer or patient in an upright or an inclined position. The chairs of this type that are now in general use are provided with a manually-operated means for raising the frame sure on a piston or a vertically-adjustable stem which carries the seat frame OfNt-he chair.

The main object of myinvention is to pro- 3 vide a chair of the general type mentioned,

which comprises an electrically-operated device of novel constructionfor ralsmg the 1 seat frame of the chair, thereby enabling the chair to be adjusted quickly andwithout exertion on the part of the-operator.

Another object is to provide a chair of the type mentioned, in which the means that re-' leases the reclining bar clamp and the means chair and to lock the stem against accidental for locking the stem' in adjusted positionare of novel construction and of such simple design that the chair is more efficlent and .easier to operate or adjust than the chairs of this type which are now in use. And still another object is to provide a practicable barbers chair of simple-design, 1n whlchall' of the adjustments or movements of-the.

chair are controlled by a singleoperati'ng lever or handle that the operator merelye has to shift in one direction or the other to raise the seat, to lower the seat, to recline the displacement or prevent it from turning.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a s de elevation'al view of a portion of a barbers chair constructed in accordance with mylnven;

tion. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the vertically adjustablestem that carries the seat frame of'the chair, Fig:- 3 is an enlarged" vertical sectional v ew of the -standard, -of

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,123.

the vertically adjustable stein that is mountv Patented Apr. .11, 191 6.

ed in the standard .and the .mechanismthat' I controls the venous adjustments of the chain: Y

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 3, illustrating-the mean-s i .for releasing the reclining bar "clamp; Fig.

5 is a detail sectional view taken',' on the line 5-'5. of Fig.- 3,illustrating themeans fe r view taken on the line"6 6 of Fig, 3. Fig.

'lockingthe' stem of-thechair'against turg' r- 'mg-movement. Fig. 6 is a detail'sectional i 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on' the" line 77 of Fig. 6; and 'Fig; 8 "is a detail sectional -view taken on the line 8 8 of- Fig. 3.

sists of an electrically operated pump or plunger that forces a non-compressible fluid In the chair herein illustrated the means. that raises 'the'seat frame of the chair coninto the hollow standard ofthe chair',"i n

which the stem is reciprocatinglymounted, thereby causing the stem to move upwardly.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A desig- I nates the seat frame of the chair, to which the arms B, the apron C and the back (not shown) are connected, the back, arms and apron being connected together. in such a manner that they will move simultaneously when the position of .the back is changed, and all of :said partsbeing joined to the be raised and lowered withsame Theba'se or standard D of the chair, commonly termed the socket, consists of a verticallydisposed cylinderv whose upper. end is open so as to receive a hollow pistonfE, commonly termed the stem, that carries the seat frame A. The standard 1) and stem E contain a noncompressible fluid, preferably oil, and means are employed for foi cing the fluid in the-hollow stem- E downwardly into the lower portion ofthe base or standard D- v so as to exert'upward pressure en the lower 'end of the stem, and thus-raise the frame A of'the chair. The means herein shown for m accomplishing this consists of 'a plunger F r automatically when the plunger F moves in one direction, and thus permits the fluid to pass from inside of the stem 'into the Io seat framein such a manner that they'will- V portion of the standard D. The plunger F of the chair herein illustrated is of relatively small area, so that it will displace a smallquantity of fluid at each stroke, and it is reciprocatingly mounted in an openended, cylindrical-shaped bearing 3 carried by a horizontally-disposed partition 4 that extends transversely of the stem adjacent the lower end of same, said partition cotipcrating with the heador end wall 1 of, the stem to form a chamber K which is normally cut off from the hollow space in the stem above the partition 4. It is preferable to employ a small plunger that displaces only a small quantity of the fluid at each stroke, on account of the high speed at which the plunger operates, but it will, of course, be obvious that. a large plunger couldbe employed without departing from the sp1r1t of my invention. The plunger F is hollow and at the lowerflend of same is a check valve 5 that is held seated by means of a spring 6 which is interposed between said valve and a depending arm 7 on the plunger F, to which the check valve 5 is pivotally connected at 8. Ports 9 and 10 that are formed in the bearing 3 and in the plunger F, respectively, establish communication between the chamber K and the upper portion of the stem E when the checkvalve 5 is open and thus cause the fluid to pass into the chamber K below the partition 4 when the plunger to be forced out of said chamber,

into the lower portion of the standard D through the port which the check valve 2 controls, the charges of fluid that are forced into the lower portion of the standard D intermittently when the plunger is in operation gra dua ly forcing the stem E upwardly. The electric motor G which operates the plunger F is preferably mounted adjacent the upper end of the stem E and the shaft 11 of said motor is provided with a worm 12 that meshes with a worm gear 13 .on a shaft 14 with which a link 15 is eccentrically connected so as to cause the plungerF to reciprocatewhen the motor is in operation, the link 15 being pivotally connected. at its lower end to said plunger andprovided at'its upper end with a yoke that surrounds an eccentric 16 on the shaft 14. Downward movement'of the stem E is effected by opening the check valve .2 in the lower. end or head 1 of the stem and also opening a check valve 17 in the, partition 4 in the stem so as to permit the fiuidto passvalves being hereinafter described.

' As previously stated, the back, arms and apron of the chair are connected together in such a manner that they will move simultaneously when the position of the back is changed. In the chair herein shown the means for holding said partsin adjusted position consists of a lock bar 18, commonly termed a reclining bar, that is normally clamped securely by a pair of cooperating clamping plates 19 and 20 which are carried by a housing E, at the upper'end of the stem E, one end of said reclining bar 18 being pivotally connected at 21 to the apron C of the chair, as shown in Fig. 1. The clamping plates 19 and 20 are hinged to gether at 22, as shown in Fig. 3, and the stationary clamping plate 19 bears against a vertically-disposed face on the housing E and is pivotally mounted on a releasing plunger 23 that is arranged horizontally in a bearing 24 in the housing E.

The stationary clamping plate 19 is provided with laterally-projecting screws that pass freely through openings inthe movable plate 20 and springs .25 are mounted on said screws between the heads thereon and the outer side of the plate 20 so as to exert suflicient pressure on said plate to cause the plates 19 and 20 to securely hold the reclining bar in adjusted position. Means are employed for forcing the releasing plunger 23 to the right, looking at Fig. 3, so as to shift. the clamping plate 20 sufficiently to release the bar 18, and thus permitthe back, the arms and the apron to be adjusted. The means herein shown for actuating the releasing plunger 23 is of I novel construction and consists of a vertically-disposed rock shaft H that is arranged inside of the stem E and which is provided with a cam 26 that engages the releasing plunger 23 and moves it to the right when the shaft H is rocked in one direction. The upper portion of the rock shaft H is guided by a bearin 27 on the stem E, and at the lower end 0 said rock shaft is a reduced extension that projects into a hole' in the partition 4, said extension being preferably formed by a piece of tubing 28 that is embedded in the shaft H and which projects downwardly below the lowerend of Sald shaft, which is supported by araised bearing on the partition 4. In addition to acting as an actuating device for the releasingfplunger 23, the .rock shaft H also forms part of a locking means for the stem E so as to hold'said stem agalnst rotary movement, or, in other words, prevent the stem from turning. As shown n Figs. 3 and 5, the rock shaft H is provided adjacent its lower end with a cam 29 that acts on a segmental shoe 30 which is loosely mounted in the stem E. When'the shaft H is rocked in one direction the cam 29 forces the clamping shoe 30 outwardly tightly against the inner surface of the hollow standard D, and thus securely clamps I the-stem E in adjusted position. When the shaft H isturned'in the opposite direction back to neutral position; the. clamping shoe 30 is released. If-desired,'the standard E can be, provided with a retaining device, 31,

conveniently formed from a piece of spring wire that extends across the clamping shoe- 30, as shown in Fig. 5,7and thus prevents ac-. eidental displacement of same when the stern E is raised high enough with relation to the [standard D, to expose said shoe-above the said'shaft also being provided with a bifur-.

upper edge of said standard. r The rock shaft His actuated bymeans of -a manually-operated lever: I whose inner end is pivotallyconnected at 2. to a bifurcated jaw on'the upper end 0 the shaft H,

' cated guide 33, through which the lever 'I I passes through an opening 34 in the houspasses, so as to reduce the strain on the pivotalconnection between said shaft and lever'whenthe lever is turned to rock the shaft H, as previously described. The lever ing E which is of suflicient size to permit the lever I'to be moved upwardly and .downwardly and also moved from side ,to side,

and meansare emplayed for normally holding said lever in an approximately horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3,the means herein shown for this purpose consisting of a yielding support 35 carried by the rock shaft H and on which the lever or handleI normally rests. -The spring 36 that sustains the support 35 is ofjsufiicient tension to nor-.

a mally hold the lever I in the position' shown .and have arranged a valve-operating rod" in Fig. I, and the shank of said support'35 is provided with a cross pin or stop 37 that strikes against the underside of the bearing l through which said shankpasses, and thus limits the upward movement of the support 35.

In order that all of the movements ofthe chair may be controlled by means of the lever or operating handleI, I have provided said lever with a switch for governing the electric circuit that energizes the motor G i 38 in such a manner that it can be actuated by said lever; I when it is desired to open the check valves 2 and 17 that permit "the stem E of. the chair to descend. The valve rod 38 passes through the tubing 28 in the rock shaft H and is arranged indirect alinement withthe check valve 17 in the partition 4 at the lower end of 'the stem E, said valve rod being normally held out of engagement with the stem 17 a or in such a position that it does .not exert pressure onsame, by means of acoiled expansion spring 39 that is arranged underneath a head .38 at the upper end of the valve rod 38. -When the lever I is moved downwardly an adj ustable contact device 40. in said lever strikes the head 38 of said valve rod and depresses said rod, therebycausing the-valves l7 and 2 to;open. .Whenthe downward pressure on the lever I is removed the yielding support 35 restores said-lever to the position shown inFig. 3, and the spring 39 whosetension is just 'suflicient to sustain the valve rod 38, moves said valve rod upwardly. The check valves .2 and 17 are-restored to their'normal closed, position by means of expansion sprlngs Y41 and 42, respectively, thespring 141 being interposed between the underside of the valve 2. and a stationary stop 43 through which a depending guide pin 2 on said valve passes, and thespring 42 being mounted .on a dependin guide pin on the underside of the valve 1 as shown in Fig.

3- and arranged between said valve and the upper end of the stem 2 of the valve 2. f

The stems of the'valves 2 and 17 are of sub.-

stantially skeletonconstruction so as to permit the free passageof the fluid through the ports which saidvalves control when said valvesare opened, and the bearing onthe partition 4 which acts asa guide for the stem 17 of the valve 17 is provided with a plurality of ports 44, as shownin .Fig. 7,

through which the fluid escapes into the, hol- .ried by a ring of. insulating .material 47 which is' connected to the. pedestal or base 'D of the chair adjacent the upper end. of Same. Two spring-pressed brushes 48 I that bear upon the contact rings 46 are combined with the stem E of the chair in such a mannerthat they will travel over said con;

tact rings when the stem E is turned or rotated, and thus prevent the conductors that lead from the brushes 48 to the motor from becoming twisted or broken. One con- .venient way of mounting the brushes 48 is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the reference character 49 designates a ring-shaped plate mounted on the upper, end of'thepedestal D and provided with a laterally-projectlng arm.50 that has a depending portion 51' 1n which the brushes 48', are mounted. Ihe plate-49 is splined to the stem E of the chair so that it will revolve with same, as, for example, by means of a key 52 on said plate that slides in a vertically-disposed groove 53 in the outer; surface of. the stemE, as

shown inFig. 8, and means are preferably employed forpreventing said plate 49 from rising or moving upwardly with the stem E, one means that may' be used for th1 s purpose beingshown in-Fig. 3 and consisting of an "inwardly-projecting arm 50* on the depending portion 51 of the arm 50 that is pro vided with a roller 54 which travels over the gagement with each other, the circuit that energizes the motor G will be closed, and consequently, said-motor will start to operate, thereby causing the stem E to move upwardly gradually. After the-seat of the chair has been raised the desired distance the controlling lever I is released or depressed sufliciently to open the circuit that energizes the motor G, the plunger F coming to rest as soon as the motor G ceases op; erating. Thereafter, the operator moves the I controlling lever I forwardly, or 'to the right, looking at Fig. 1, so as. to turn the rock shaft H and cause the cam 29-on said shaft to force the clamping shoe 30 outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the pedestal D of the chair, thereby securely locking the stem E of the chair in adjusted position. If it is desired to change the position of the back of the chair the operator moves the controlling lever I in the opposite direction, or to theleft of the neutral position shown in Fig. 1, so as to cause the cam '26 on the rock shaft H to actuate the releasing plunger 23 that separates the clamping plates that cooperate with the reclining bar 18. After the back has been adjusted properly the controlling lever is mfifed back to its neutral position, and if it is desired to .again lock the stem E against rotary movement, said controlling lever I is again moved to the right. To lower the chair the operator simply restores the controlling lever I to neutral position and presses downwardly on same so as to open the check valves 2 and 17 which govern the passage of the liquid from the hollow standard Dinto the hollow portion of the stem E above the partition 4.

In view of the fact that the switch that governs the circuit that energizes the motor 7 G is formed by a contact on the controlling lever I and a contact on the housing at the upper portion of the stem E, said contacts can'be easily arranged in such a manner that it will beimpossible to start the motor G when the controlling lever I is in its forward position. In the chair herein shown the contact 56 extends rearwardly or to the left of the neutral position of the lever I, as shown in broken "lines in Fig. 2. Consequently, if the lever I is raised when said I lever is in its forward position, with the stem locked against rotary movement, the

motor will not start, thereby eliminating the possibility of damaging the chair, due to attempting to' adjust the stem vertically when the stem is locked. I

In a chair of the construction above described the seat frame can be raised: quickly and without exertion on the part of the operator, owing to .the fact that the means that effects the vertical movement of the stem E consists of an electrically-operated device.

the seat, rearwardly when it is desired to recline the chair. or change the position of the back and forwardly when-it is desired to lock the stem in adjusted position. In addition to the desirable features above mentioned,'a chair of this construction overcomes the necessity of the. operator using great care when adjusting the chair, owing to the fact-that the-controlling lever is given a full" stroke in its four different directions of movement when the adjustment of the chair is changed. In the chairs of this type that are now in general use the vertical adjustment of the seat frame is effected by rocking a manually-operated lever back and forth a certain distance, the locking of the stem against rotary movement being efiected by continuing the movement of the lever in one direction and-the release of the reclining bar being effected by continuing the movement of the lever in the opposite direction. If, during the operation of raising the seat, the levershould be rocked; too far in one direction or the other, the stem will be locked or the reclining bar released. Consequently, a certain amount of skill and care has to be exercised by the operator in adjusting the seat vertically. In the chair herein shown no skill or practice .on the part of the operator. is required to adjust the chair, because the vertical ,adjus'tmentis of fected merely byraising the controlling -le-- ver and the other adjustments are efi'ected by moving the controlling lever in entirely different directions. v Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is: v I

1.' A chair provided with a vertically-adjustable stem, a cylinder in which said stem operates, and an electrically-operateddevice carried by said stem for forcing a fluid into base I ments, and an electrically-operated pump provided with a hollow piston that controls the flow of a non-compressible fluid from,

one of said compartments into the other and also forces said fluid into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly.

3. A .chair provided with a hollow base and a hollow stem reciprocatingly mounted inside of same and both of which are adapt-' ed to contain a non-compressible fluid, said stein having two compartments, a plunger that permits said fluid to pass from one compartment into'the other and also forces said fluid into the base so as to raise the stem,

.and an electric motor on said stem for actuating said plunger.

, In a chair of the general class men-J, tioned, the combination of a vertically-disposed cylinder, a hollow stem reciprocatingly mounted in said cylinder and PI'OVldfid' with a partition that separates the interlor of said stem into two compartments or chambers, a check valve thatcontrols a port in the endof said stem which establishes communication between the lower chamber and said cylinder, and an electrically-operated device in said partition that forces a non-compressible fluid out of said lower chamber into said cylinder so as to cause .the stem to move upwardly.

5. A chair of the general class described,

provided with a vertically-adjustable frame that is adapted to be turned or rotated mto different positions, an electrically-operated means carried by said frame for effecting the vertical adjustment of saidframe, and a manually-operated means for lockingsaid frame against rotary movement.

6. A chair of the general class described, provided with a vertically-adjustable frame that is adapted to be turned or rotated into different positions, an electrically-operated means for effecting the vertical adjustment of said frame, a locking means separate and distinct from means that prevents the frame from turning or rotating, anda device under control of the operator for governing both of saidmeans.

7. A chair justable seat tated into different positions, a locking mechanism for the back ofthe chair, a looking mechanism for preventing said seat frame from turning, a manually-operated said electrically-operated rovided with a vertically-ad-- rame that can be' turned or rois in its different positions for causing the seat to move upwardly, for causing the seat to move downwardly, for locking thes'eat against rotary movement, and for re- ,leasing the back of the chair.

means comprising an electric motor for effecting the verticaladjustment'of the seat, a controlling lever, means for causing the circuit that energizes said motor to be closed -when said lever is moved in one direction,

and'means for causing the seat to descend when sald leveris moved in a difierentdirection.

.1 1. An adjustable reclining chair provided with a vertically-adjustable seat that can be rotated or turned into different positions,

a locking means for the back of the chair, means comprising an electric motor for effecting the vertical adjustment of the seat, a controlling lever, means for causing the circuit that energizes said motor, to be closed when said lever is moved in one direction, means for causing the seat to descend when said lever is moved in a different direction, means for causing the seat to be locked against rotary movement when said controlling lever is moved into a certain position,

and means for causing the back locking mechanism to be released when said lever isv moved into stilha different position.

12. In a chair of the type described, a hollow standard or base, a vertically-adjustable stem in said base whose lower end acts as a piston, an electrically-operated device carried by saidstem for forcing a fluid into said standard so as to exert upward pressure on the lower end of the stem and thus cause the stem to move upwardly, and a manually operated means for relieving the upward pressure that said fluid exerts on said stem so as to cause the stem to descend.

13. A chair provided with a cylinder, a stem or piston reciprocatingly mounted in said cylinder, apump carried by said stem for forcing a fluid into said cylinder so as to cause the piston to move upwardly, a motor carried by said stem for driving said pump,

a relief valve, and means under control of the operator for actuating said relief valvewhen. it is desired to have said piston descend.

In a chair of the class described, a ver-' rotated or turned into different positions,

tically-disposed cylinder, a vertically-adjusted stem or piston in said cylinder provided with two compartments, a plunger for pernitting a fluid to pass from one, compartment into the other and for forcing the fluid out of said compartment into said cylinder so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, an electrically operated means for actuating said plunger, a valve for establishing communication between said cylinder andthe interior of said stem, and a manually-operated means separate and distinct from said plunger-operating means for actuating said valve when it is desired to have the piston descend.

15. In a chair of the class described, the combination of a vertically-disposed cylin= der, a hollow piston or stem reciprocatingly mounted therein provided with a partition that divides the interior of same into two compartments, a hollow plunger reciprocatingly. mounted in a guide on said partition and provided with a check. valve, said, plunger and guide being provided with cooperating ports, a check valve in the lower end of said stem that opens automatically when said plunger moves in one direction, and a separate and distinct valve in said partition that controls the communication between the two separate compartments of said stem.

5 16. In. a chair of the class described, the

combination of a vertically-disposed cylinder, a hollow piston or stem reciprocatingly gnounted therein provided with a partition that divides the interior of same into two compartments, a hollow plunger reciprocatingly mounted in a guide on said partition and provided with a check valve, said plun- I 'ger and guide being provided with cooper- 4o ating ports, a check valve in the lower end of said stem that opens automatically when said plunger moves in one direction, a separate and distinct valve in said partition that controls the communication between the two separate compartments of said stem, a controlling lever, and means operated by said lever for unseating the valves in said partition and in thq lower end of the stem. 17. A chair provided with a hollow standard or base, a rotatable stem reciprocatingly mounted in said base, a plunger for forcing fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, a motor for actuating said plunger, a check valve in the stem that opens automatically and thus permits the fluid to pass from the stem into c the base when theplunger moves in one/direction, and a manually-operated controlling device for causing said motor to become operative and for holding said check valve -unseated. V

18. A chair provided with a hollow stand- -ard.o r base, a rotatable stem reciprocatingly mounted in said base, a plunger for forcing fluid out of said stem into said base so as to seated, means for locking the stem'against rotary movement, and means governed by 75,

said controlling device for causing said stem-locking means to become operative.

19. In a chair of the class described, a vertically-disposed cylinder that constitutes the base of the chair, a hollow stem in said so cylinder provided at its lower end with a check valve, a plunger for forcing a fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, a vertically-disposed rock shaft arranged inside of said stem, a. device,actuated by said rock shaft for locking the stem against rotary movement and a valve rod in saidrock shaft for holding the check valve in the stem unseated.

:20. In a chair of the class described, ,a vertically-disposed cylinder that constitutes the base of the chair, a hollow stem in said cylinder provided at its lower end with a check valve, a plunger for forcing a fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, a verticallydisposed rock shaft arranged inside of said stem, a device actuated by said rock shaft for locking the stem against rotary movement, a valve rod in said rock shaft for holding the check valve inothestem unseated, and a handle or lever for actuating said rock shaft and for actuating said valve rod.

21. In an adjustable reclining chair, the combination of a hollow standard or base, a hollow stem mountedtherein, a plunger for forcing a fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, a reclining bar, locking mechanism for said reclining bar, ,a locking device for the stem, a releasing plunger for rendering the reclining bar locking mechanism inoperative, avertically-disposed rock shaft in the stem provided with cams that cooperate with said releasing plunger and with said stem locking device, and a lever or handle underlcontrol of the operator for actuating said rock shaft.

'22. In an adjustable reclining chair, the combination of a hollow standard or base, a hollow stem mounted therein, a plunger. for forcing a fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause thestem to move upwardly, a reclining bar, locking mechanism for said reclining bar, a locking device for the stem, a releasing plunger for rendering the reclining bar locking mechanism inoperative, a vertically-disposed rock shaft in the stem provided with cams that cooperate with said releasing plunger and with said 1% control of the operator for actuating said rock shaft, an electric motor for operating,

said plunger, a valve which causes the stem to descend when it is held unseated, and means governed by said controlling lever for holding said valve unseated and for rendering said motor operative.

23. In a chair of'the type described, a controlling lever that is adapted to be raised when it is desired to move the seat of the chair upwardly and depressed when it is desired to move the seat of the chair downwardly, and a yielding support for said lever that normally holds the lever in a neutral position.

24. A chair of "the type described, provided with a hollow standard or base, a vertically-adjustable stem in said base, a pump for forcing a fluid out of said stem into said base so as to cause the stem to move upwardly, an electric motor mounted on said stem for actuating said plunger, said stem being mounted in said base in such a manner that it can be .turned or rotated with relation to the base, conductors on the base that are connected with a supply of electrical energy, brushes cooperating with'said conductors and operatively connected with said motor, and means for causing said brushes to turn or rotate with the stem.

25. In a chair of the class described, a

' hollow standard or base, a vertically-adjustable stem rotatably mounted in said base, an electric motor carried by said stem, conductor rings on said base that are-connected with a supply of electrical energy, brushes cooperating with said conductor rings and operatively connected with said motor, and a member on said base that carriessaid brushes and which is splined to said stem so that it will turn -or rotate with same.

26. In a chair of the class described, a

standard, a vertically-adjustable stem in said standard, an electrically-operated device for raising and lowering said stem, a reclining bar, mechanism for locking said reclining bar, a releasing device for rendering said mechanism inoperative, a locking devicefor the stem, a vertically-disposed rock shaft in the stem for actuating said releasing device and said locking device, and means associated .with said rock shaft for controlling said electrically-operated device.

In'testimony whereof I hereunto aflix' my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of December, 1914.

WALTER F. KoKEN Witnesses:

EDGAR W. MEIER, Lnwrs E. MOORE. 

